Ostaszewskis Catch Eyes Of Fsu Coaches

``I don`t know one from the other,`` DeBord said, ``so I just call them `you` and `hey, you,` but I like them.``

And so does Seminole defensive line coach Chuck Amato.

``I think we might have underestimated them in our initial evaluation,`` he said. ``We knew they could run, but they have been impressive so far.``

The Boynton Beach residents and graduates of Santaluces High School will probably be redshirted, but Amato said if current progress continues he wouldn`t hesitate to use them in an emergency.

Both played well in Wednesday`s 90-minute scrimmage.

``They aren`t ready to play now, but I believe they could be ready, if needed, in four or five weeks,`` Amato said.

Most collegiate scouts ranked Henry a little ahead of Joe as a high school senior, but Amato says the difference in ability is like the difference in looks of the identical twins.

``I wouldn`t want to say which one is better,`` Amato said. ``They have excellent work habits and are very coachable. I think they are going to play a lot of football before they leave Florida State.``

Coach Bobby Bowden has been similarly impressed.

``We knew the type of kids we were getting,`` he said. ``They have an excellent family background. They have surprised us with their play early.``

The transition from high school to college hasn`t been easy, but it hasn`t been as hard the Ostaszewskis expected.

``Florida State sent us a program, and we worked out all summer,`` said Joe, who is 6-foot-4, 245 pounds, ``but our real preparation came from our job.

``We worked for a plumbing company digging ditches in the hot sun. We started in the morning, and it would look like we were out in the desert. Our water bottle was our best friend.``

``The job was good for us,`` said Henry, who is 6-3, 230 pounds. ``We figured if we were going to play in the trenches that we might as well work in the trenches.``

After a summer in the hot sun, the Ostaszewskis went to visit relatives in Hawaii.

``One morning, we got up to run on the beach and thought it was 6 a.m.,`` Henry said, ``but it was really 4. The jet lag really got us.``

The toughest adjustment from high school, the brothers agree, is the pace of practice.

``Everything is done on the move,`` Joe said. ``You never stop moving or running. In high school, you could always letdown just a little, and it didn`t matter. If you letdown in college, somebody is watching.``

Although the brothers are aware being redshirted is likely, they are working as if they expect to play.

``I don`t think you can approach it any other way at this level,`` Henry said. ``If you do, somebody moves right past you.

``Everybody has ability in college. Everybody in college can play, or they wouldn`t be on the team.``

Since they look so much alike, Henry took No. 74 and Joe No. 75. Originally slated for offense, they are enjoying defense.

Somewhere in the future, Amato envisions them playing in the same front, each at a tackle spot.

And so far the Ostaszewskis have been impressive enough to catch the eye of the coaches.

``As freshmen,`` Henry said, ``that`s all we can hope for so we`ve already accomplished a lot.``

NOTES: Danny McManus` pass to tight end Pat Carter was the only score in the scrimmage. Nose tackle Odell Haggins, receivers Terry Anthony, Bruce LaSane and Felton Cook and freshmen quarterbacks Brad Johnson and Casey Weldon played well. ``Our tailbacks didn`t run good and our timing was off,`` Bowden said... Heat exhaustion caused several players to leave the field. Offensive lineman John Brown left practice for the second day in a row... Wide receiver Herb Gainer injured his left foot... Linebacker Brian Davis quit the team.